The airport is not just about getting to a sunny beach or a luxurious resort—we like those things too—but for the Chamber and the Springfield Business Development Corporation, our airport is about connecting commerce, economic development opportunities and ultimately, job creation.

Each day decision-makers come into the Springfield region through the Springfield-Branson National Airport as they consider whether or not to do business and create jobs in our region.

At the same time, Springfield businesses use the airport to access the rest of the world, growing their businesses and boosting the local economy.

That’s why the announcement below about new American Airlines service to Charlotte is so important to our Chamber, and hopefully to you too.

It’s also why the Springfield Business Development Corporation, the Chamber’s economic development arm, decided to get behind this effort.

This is a step toward becoming an even better place to do business, and we’re grateful to be moving forward with great partners like American Airlines, and the Springfield Airport Board and leadership.

A July 4th Present to Springfield from AmericanAmerican Airlines brings Springfield non-stop service to Charlotte, NC

American Airlines will begin new, non-stop service between Springfield and Charlotte-Douglas International Airport beginning November 5. Tickets go on sale July 5.

This new service gives the Springfield airport 11 non-stop destinations. The average number of non-stop destinations for cities similar to Springfield is eight.

“This new service is great news for the community and region,” says Charlotte Hardin, chair of the airport’s governing board. “It gives Springfield customers access to American’s second largest hub in North America, when measured by departing seats. Access to Charlotte offers Springfield customers a world of possibilities.”

Right now Springfield airport customers generally fly through Chicago or Atlanta to reach Northeast destinations. The new American service to Charlotte gives customers other options: New York City, Philadelphia, Orlando, Pittsburgh, Boston, and Washington, D.C. These are just some of the cities now available to Springfield through American’s Charlotte hub.

American’s connecting flights from Charlotte also allow for outstanding international connectivity to many of Springfield’s top international destinations, including London, Frankfurt, Paris, Rome, Dublin and Madrid. Connecting flights to the Caribbean, and Latin American destinations such as Mexico, Jamaica, Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Cayman Islands, and Brazil are available as well.

“Support from the business community and our congressional delegation helped make this new service a reality,” says Brian Weiler, airport director. “Before starting new service one of the things airlines look for is business support and interest from lawmakers. I want to thank Senator Claire McCaskill, Senator Roy Blunt, and Congressman Billy Long, along with the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce and its economic development arm, the Springfield Business Development Corporation (SBDC).”

“Today’s announcement is about progress toward becoming an even better place to do business,” says Tom Rankin, with Rankin Development and board president of the SBDC. “With connections to Charlotte new economic opportunities open up. We are convinced that our business community will continue to respond to these opportunities by filling nearly every plane that comes in and goes out of our airport.”

The addition of Charlotte service gives the airport an average of 25 daily departures, flying to five major hub airports: Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, and Denver. The new Charlotte service will increase the number of airline seats in the market by 36,000 annually.

“Springfield and American have a long relationship. It began in 1946 and has endured for 69-years. It continues to grow,” says Hardin. “In the aftermath of the recession passenger growth at Springfield is unusually strong — we’ve had 17 straight months of passenger growth. We view the new American service as a vote of confidence in Springfield and Southwest Missouri.”

Tickets for the new Springfield-Charlotte route go on sale this Sunday on the American website:www.aa.com.